Winter 2002 Volume 2, Edition 1 A Peer Reviewed Journal for SOF Medical Professionals Winter Training Dedicated to the Indomitable Spirit & Sacrifices of the SOF Medic Report Documentation Page Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 1. REPORT DATE 3. DATES COVERED 2002 2. REPORT TYPE 00-00-2002 to 00-00-2002 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER Journal of Special Operations Medicine Volume 2, Edition 1 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION Joint Special Operations University,357 Tully Street,Alison REPORT NUMBER Building,Hurlburt Field,FL,32544 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S) 11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT NUMBER(S) 12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release; distribution unlimited 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14. ABSTRACT 15. SUBJECT TERMS 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF 18. NUMBER 19a. NAME OF ABSTRACT OF PAGES RESPONSIBLE PERSON a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT c. THIS PAGE Same as 84 unclassified unclassified unclassified Report (SAR) Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 From the Surgeon Greetings again from HQ USSOCOM! This Journal remains a viable tool for us to spread the word and share medical information between each level of medical support. Our forces have been deployed into Operation Enduring Freedom for sev- eral months now. We here in this headquarters are beaming with pride at the professionalism demonstrat- ed by our SOF forces, and in the quality of the medical care rendered to our forces by the Medics, Corpsmen and PJs in the field. We get daily status reports from the hospitals in Europe caring for casualties of this deployment, and the medical personnel charged with their care have performed superbly from the point of injury/illness through evacuation to CONUS Medical Centers. As this campaign unfolded, we "chopped" as much of our staff to help CENTCOM as needed for this effort. Our guys, in concert with the CENTCOM/SG staff, put together a medical annex to the "big" plan that was awesome given the tyranny of distances involved. We even sent one of our medical planners as the JSOCC-SG forward. Bottom line is that all is working well. So, why do I bring it up? Early in the operation I began to get a little nervous that we had this big plan and we medics hadn't shared the details with the Line leadership here. I had a meeting with the CINC on another matter, and finally said that we here were supporting CINC CENTCOM and SOCCENT and that we were very happy with the plan. I offered to bring him a briefing on the "nuts and bolts" of the medical annex hoping that his approval would give us all a "warm fuzzy". He simply told me that he didn't need a briefing, "but we had better be happy with the plan; those are our people over there!". So, he trusts us with the plan and we trust the operators to pull it off. As folks come back and rede- ploy, pick their brains, get their experiences on paper, find the shortfalls and let us know what they need to continue their successes. The forces we deploy are so highly skilled and trained they are national treasures. Bust your butt to find new and better ways to support them in their attack on the terrorists. Pass the word, let us know, keep on keepin on! God Bless America dhammer Dave Hammer (center) 1st Marines, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, Winter 1959 Third Battalion, 10th Special Forces out of Fort Carson near Colorado Springs, CO train at Crested Butte. Sgt. First Class Gabe Maillet, Master Ski Instructor, instructs an advanced class. Photographs by: Joseph Rehana The Journal of Special Operations Medicine is an authorized official quarterly publication of the United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It is in no way associated with the civilian Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA). Our mission is to promote the professional development of Special Operations medical personnel by pro- viding a forum for the examination of the latest advancements in medicine. The views contained herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect official Department of Defense posi- tion. This publication does not supercede any information presented in other Department of Defense publications. Articles, photos, artwork, and letters are invited, as are comments and criticism, and should be addressed to Editor, Journal of Special Operations Medicine, USSOCOM, SOC-SG, 7701 Tampa Point Blvd., MacDill AFB, FL 33621-5323. Telephone: DSN 968-5442, commercial: (813) 828-5442, fax: -2568; e-mail [email protected]. All scientific articles are peer reviewed prior to publication. The Journal Of Special Operations Medicine reserves the right to edit all material. No payments can be made for manuscripts submitted for publication. Published works may be reprinted, except where copyrighted, provided credit is given to the Journal of Special Operations Medicine and the authors. From The Staff As we continue to involve you, our readers, in the production of this journal, your submissions and photos are what are needed to make this journal unique. It is a sharing of your missions and your lives as you go forth as instruments of national foreign policy. We can’t do it without your input. You are what the journal is all about. This journal is one of the most excellent and righteous tools we have to span all the SOF services, to share medical infor- mation and experience unique to this community. The JSOM survives because of generous but time-consuming contributions sent by clinicians, researchers and former medics from all the services who were SOF qualified and/or who served with SOF units. We need your help. We are always looking for SOF-related articles from current and/or former SOF medical veterans. If you have contributions great or small…f ire ‘em our way. Our E-mail is: [email protected]. A recent addition to the JSOM is the offering of CMEs. We are currently working with USUHS, our sponsor for CMEs for the physicians, PAs and nurses, starting with this edition. In this edition, you will find CMEs offered on “Part 1- Dive Medical Brief ” (Part 2 will be in our Spring Edition) and “Prehospital Treatment of Hypothermia” articles. In this edition of the JSOM, we honor our fallen brother, MSG Jefferson D. Davis, killed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM . Word from the "field", our readers, is that they would like to see the following types of articles in future JSOMs. Articles that entail and involve the following: Tricks of the Trade…anything from simple more effective bandaging to doing more with less (supplies, meds), keeping IVs warm, treatment of hotspots and blisters, Colloids vs. Crystalloid fluid replace- ment, IV infusion in extremities vs. intraosseous fluid infusion; Poor-mans Gatorade recipe, improvised laxatives or antidiar- rheals or anything improvised for that matter; herbal medicine…any relevance or uses that are legitimate; articles dealing with trauma, infectious disease processes and/or environment and wilderness medicine type articles; more photos accompanying the articles or alone to be included in the photo gallery associated with medical guys and/or training. The fact is most everybody that has read an article on a technique or concept knows of another way of doing the same thing that's perhaps faster, easier, or dare I say...better. Just like any patrol or observation of a target…the more eyes the better. If you, the readers, have knowledge of such things as listed above or at least know where to find info on a particular subject…let us know here. We’ll hunt down where you think you saw that information and see if we can't either re-print it for the rest of the readers or at the very least pass along where information of interest can be found. OK enough said…keep your eyes open and let us know. Thanks. Lastly, our distribution list continues to expand daily. Requests for the journal have come from all services: from medics to physicians, from clinical to operational units as well as from the retired and civilian communities. We are doing our best to see that all who will benefit from the journal receive it. Enjoy this edition of the journal, send us your feedback, and get those article submissions in to us: [email protected]. sea/mdd Volume 2, Edition 1 / Winter 02 1 Meet Your JSOM Staff EXECUTIVE EDITOR David L. Hammer, MD [email protected] Colonel Hammer’s military and medical career began in 1958 when he served as a U.S. Navy Combat Medical Corpsman attached to U.S. Marine Corps infantry, artillery, and communication/reconnaissance units. Following discharge, he completed his BS and MD degrees at the University of Michigan in 1967 and 1970 respectively. Following nine years of civilian medical practice in a multi-specialty group in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he reentered military service as a Flight Surgeon at Beale AFB. In 1984, he completed the Air Force Residency in Aerospace Medicine at Brooks AFB, Texas, during which period he earned a Masters in Public Health Degree from Harvard University. Colonel Hammer has spent the majority of his career in aerospace medicine and direct line support assignments, has commanded three medical groups, and has been assigned to the ARRS/SG, the AFSOC/SG and the USAFA/SG. He is a chief flight surgeon and a master para- chutist. MANAGING EDITOR PRODUCTION EDITOR Steve E. Anderson, PA-C Michelle D. DuGuay, RN [email protected] [email protected] CPT Anderson enlisted in the Army in 1980. Upon Maj DuGuay joined the Army Reserve in 1987 and completion of the Combat Medic course, he volun- served as a nurse in a Combat Support Hospital unit teered for Airborne and Special Forces training. for three years before switching services in 1990 to Assignments encompassing 13 years as a SF medic become an Air Force C-130 Flight Nurse. She is cur- include: Team medic-C/3/10th SFG(A), Instructor at rently a reservist attached to the USSOCOM/SG Med Lab-Ft Bragg and Medic-1st SFOD-D. CPT office. Maj DuGuay has a BSN and is currently Anderson was accepted to the Military Physician obtaining her MBA with a concentration in manage- Assistant program and subsequently commissioned ment. Her skills include being a flight nurse (both in 1995. Assignments from that time to present military and civilian), 15 years of critical care and include: 1/9th INF Regiment, 2/504th PIR, 82d Abn emergency room nursing experience, an EMT and a DIV, 2/7th SFG(A), and currently assigned to the legal nurse consultant. She has also served as the USSOCOM Surgeons Office as the Command PA. military liaison to her FL 3 Disaster Medical Education and qualifications include: B.S. Southern Assistance Team (DMAT). Prior to the SG office, Illinois University 1979, B.S. University of Maj DuGuay’s experience at USSOCOM included Oklahoma 1995, and MPAS University of Nebraska- an assignment in the Center for Force Structure, 1997, Jump Master, SERE, HALO, Combat Diver, Resources, Requirements, and Strategic Dive Medical Technician, Flight Surgeon, Dive Assessments. Medical Officer. 2 Journal of Special Operations Medicine Journal of Special Operations Medicine EXECUTIVEEDITOR Hammer, David L., MD MANAGING EDITOR [email protected] PRODUCTION EDITOR Anderson, Steven E., PA-C DuGuay, Michelle D., RN [email protected] [email protected] EDITORIAL BOARD Senior Editor:Anderson, Warner J., MD Heintz, David S., MSPM Lundseth, Paul, MD Parsons, Deborah A., RN Clayton, Robert T., SVERDRUP Officer CME MANAGERS Enlisted Parsons, Deborah A., RN Robert McCumseyA., EMT-P [email protected] [email protected] CME REVIEW BOARD Clifford C. Cloonan, MD John M. Wightman, MD EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Ackerman, Bret T., DO Kinkead, Bert E., MBA Allen, Robert C., DO Llewellyn, Craig H., MD Anderson, Steven E., PA-C Lockette, Warren, MD Bearden, Clint E., EMT-P Lorraine, James R., RN Bourne, Peter G.,MD Jackson, Michael A., PA-C Brannon, Robert H., FACHE Keenan, Kevin K., MD Briley, Daniel S., PA-C Klienschmidt, Paul K., MD Brochu, Michael A., EMT-P Knauff, Glenn D., EMT-P Brown, William E., EMT-P LaPointe, Robert L., SMSgt (Ret.) Burdish, John P., PA-C Lutz, Robert H., MD Butler, Frank K., MD McAtee, John M., PA-C Cavolt, Brian W., IDC Miller, Robert M., EMT-P Collins, Marlise R., MD Nelon, Earnest L., MSSI Compton, Shon D., PA-C Pease, Peter J., EMT-P Darby, William M., MPH Pennardt, Andre M., MD Davis, Harley C., MG (Ret.) Philippi, Alan F., MD Davis, William J., COL Polli, Dennis M., IDC Descarreaux, Denis G., OD Porr, Darrel R., MD Dougherty, James J., MD Reed, Hadley B., MD Durck, Craig H., DO Richards, Thomas R., RADM (Ret.) Eacrett, Edward D., PA-C Rhinehart, Michael E., EMT-P Edwards, Curt E., EMT-P Riley, Kevin F., MS Evans, Everett E., EMT-I Rooney, Richard C., MD Frame, Robert T., DMD Schoomaker, Peter J., GEN. (Ret.) Farr, Warner D., MD Schroer, David J. Gandy, John J., MD Short, Jeffrey E., MD Garsha, Larry S., MD Shipman, Donald G., PA-C Gerber, Fredrick E., MMAS Singer, Darrell, MD Giebner, Steven D., MD Smith, Louis H., PA-C Giles, James T., DVM Swann, Steven W., MD Godbee, Dan C., MD Uhorchak, John M., MD Hartman, Richard T., MS Vanderbeek, James, D., MD Hlavnicka, John L., CRNA Wedam, Jack M., DVM Holcomb, John B., MD Wilkinson, Michael D., Ph.D King, Jeffery S., MS Yevich, Steven J., MD Volume 2, Edition 1 / Winter 02 3 Contents Winter 2002 Volume 2, Edition 1 Departments Component Surgeon Offices 5 Legacy 56 The “DOC” is in Warner Farr, MD USASOC Leonard D.Blessing Jr. Larry Garsha, MD NAVSPECWARCOM Jim Dougherty, MD AFSOC Expedient Medic 59 Education and Training 16 Antibiotic Use in the Austere Environment Medical Risk Assessments: Expanded Mission for Part 1-Upper Respiratory SOF Medical Personnel Warner Anderson, MD William M. Darby, MPH, MEPM, REHS SAM Splints for Special Ops Medicine Sam Scheinberg Research & Development 20 There I Was... 66 Functions of the Biomedical Initiatives Steering A Memorable Mission Committee Wayne Fisk Mr. Robert Clayton, SVERDRUP OPERATION "JUNGLE JIM" Hap Lutz Features Dive Medical Brief: A Comprehensive Review 22 Correspondence Letters to the Editor & Apologies 72 for the Special Forces Dive Medical Technician Eric D. Martin, DO 1.75 CME--2.0 CNE/CEH The Lost Art of Mule Packing in the U.S.Army 31 Editorials 74 Michael B. Lennon, VMD, PhD Prehospital Treatment of Hypothermia 35 Gordon G. Giesbrecht, PhD 1.25 CME--1.5 CNE/CEH Med Quiz 76 NVG Injuries in U.S.Army Aviation 43 Paul A. Cain, MD ChB John S. Crowley, MD Photo Gallery 78 CME Test Questions 49 Dive Medical Brief Prehospital Treatment of Hypothermia Dedication 80 SOMA Update 54 Jefferson D. Davis 4 Journal of Special Operations Medicine USASOC Below is an accounting of the USASOC Surgeon's Conference this December in Tampa. After concentrating on Guerrilla Warfare (GW) Rocky Farr, MD for the weekend and for a week of the Special COL, USA Operation Medical Association (SOMA) confer- Command Surgeon ence, I was fortunate enough to make it forward to the war. GW is alive and well & our guys are Editors Note: After several months of coercion, COL doing it great. Robin Sage in action. Thanks, Farr has provided the JSOM an updated photograph. Rocky The previous photo was CIRCA 1969 in the Republic of Vietnam. This new photo was recently taken in 2001 USASOC COMMAND SURGEON’S Afghanistan. CONFERENCE AFTER ACTION REPORT (AAR) by LTC Michael Mouri tours are available from 90 to 179 days. Special forces medical sergeant (SFMS) consists of special The 2001 USASOC Command Surgeon’s operations combat medic (SOCM) and advanced Conference was held 8-10 December 2001 at the special operations combat medic (ADSOCM). For Hyatt Regency Hotel, Tampa, FL. the SEALs, ADSOCM is special operations inde- Hosts: COL Farr, USASOC Command Surgeon, pendent duty corpsman (SOIDC). Sick Call is now COL Diamond, USASOC IMA Command Surgeon, incorporated in SOCM using the Navy Sick Call COL Keenan, JSOMTC Dean & USAJFKSWCS Screener Curriculum. The DOT 2000 update of Surgeon, COL Anderson, USASOC Surgeon’s Staff EMT-P certification recommends 1200 hours of Attendees: HHC--CPT Schob, MSG Capuzzo, LTC training excluding the EMT-B and A&P prerequi- Mouri; GSC--CPT Settle; 1st Bn--CPT Hamada, sites. SOCM provides 948 hours and now awards MSG Long; 3rd Bn--MAJ Butler, CPT Garrett; 350 the 91WW1. ADSOCM/SOIDC provides 1032 CA--COL Jenkins, LTC Ward, LTC Weaver, LTC hours and re-establishes medical acumen, reinforces Adams, LTC Milligan, LTC Cunningham, MAJ anesthesia including inhalational, and provides Allen; other CA and SF units minus 5th Group, 75th unconventional warfare/guerrilla warfare (UW/GW) Ranger Regiment, 160th SOAR nursing skills. One day of dental training is lost. The medical sustainment requirements for 18Ds Presentation Topics: remain the same: Special Operations Forces Medical Training: There are now six 61N Flight Medical Skills Sustainment Program (SOFMSSP), Surgeon individual mobilization augmentee (IMA) Medical Proficency Training (MPT) and Non-trau- slots at the JSOMTC with curriculum responsibility ma modules (NTM) every two years. All SF groups for 30 days of the 18D training calendar. Volunteer except the 19th now have local MPT training sites. 5 Volume 2, Edition 1 / Winter 02 Our site is the Birmingham VA Hospital, which in one year and all females must have a UPT 48 requires a minimum 30-day advanced notice before a hours before deploying. CHRs continue while rotation is established. Our memorandum of under- deployed. Complete the weekly DNBI report while standing (MOU) must be renewed every two years. deployed as well as those on the reportable medical All MPT rotations require that the 18D maintain event list. Within 5 days of redeploying, present a patient contact journal with age, gender, diag- redeployment medical briefing, complete DD2796 nosis and procedures performed. A case study is and consider drawing serum to be stored in the DOD mandatory and will be sent to USASOC Surgeon Serum repository on everyone with a possible expo- for entry into an 18D archive. The two primary sure. TB skin testing should be done 3 months postde- unassigned sites remain Shock Trauma in Baltimore, ployment. MD and the Navaho Indian Hospital in Shiprock, Med Intel: Dave Passaro, who is also an NM. Pending sites include a two-week anesthesia 18D with 19th SFG (A), works with CSM Betty Rice rotation at Charlotte Hospital and a four-week surgi- as an S-2 officer. Information sources include cal rotation at the University of Cincinnati. Travax from Department of State, Disease and Continuing medical education (CME) hours may be Environmental Alert Reports (DEARS) now know possible through the JSOMTC but it will not be easy as Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center and it remains at the bottom of the priority list at this Medical Environmental Disease Intelligence and time. CME is available for paramedics in the Counter-measures (AFMIC MEDIC CD-ROM), JSOM. environment, climate, water, blood, hyperbaric Physical Examination: Approval for all chambers, waste, plants & animals, health service Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS) physi- assessment, foreign medical facilities handbook, cals now resides at the Bn level with the Surgeon and evacuation capability, reports (special operations PA and all stamps have been distributed. Waivering debriefing and retrieval system [SODARS], AARs, authority for any disqualifying condition remains Intellink), and special studies. If you have a military with the SWCS Surgeon, COL Keenan. Profiling or government e-mail address, contact directly for any heat or cold casualties now requires a http://mic.afmic.detrick.army.mil especially for Medical Evaluation Board (MEB). Temporary pro- infectious diseases and environmental injuries. files cannot exceed 90 days and no one should be on Suggested resources would be AFMIC, phone: 910- profile in excess of one year. 432-9264. Other resources include TRAVAX.COM Live Animals: Several approved exportable and PROMED, e-mail animal use protocols exist. All physicians and vet- [email protected]. After logging on, erinary surgeons require an 8-hour training block on type “SUBSCRIBE PROMED”. He stressed the animal use. It is exportable, however, the Group importance of sending copies of OCONUS AARs Surgeon and all veterinarians should attend the to him. You can contact him at 910-432- course at Ft Bragg. A new protocol to recover ani- 9652/9264/2491 Fax 4292 DSN 239-xxxx STU III mals from anesthesia is due in July 02 and will allow 9652. for a UW/GW training focus for teaching other 18 Med Log: SFC Ramirez, 91S, reminded us series and indigent soldiers. For all animal use out- that our med chem kits of the Mark I injector, side of Ft Bragg, you must have an approved pro- CANA and PB tabs are centrally managed by the tocol; inform the PI and the CG via USASOC MEDCOM and the request for release should go Surgeon; use trained instructors; have students through USASOC Surgeon to the OTSG. There is sign a letter of nondisclosure; and maintain records. a catalog of all available medical supplies at the special oper- Reports: Both Command Health Report ations forces support activity (SOFSA). (CHR) & 18D Quarterly Training Report (QTR) are Retention: AD 18Ds over 18 years will be due by the 15th to MSG Capuzzo. Accuracy and given an opportunity to test for PA certification with promptness are paramount. Deployment Health a four-year commitment if successful at the Surveillance (DHS) is required for all OCONUS JSOMTC. Nothing will be funded centrally and no missions regardless of length of stay. Complete additional time will be provided for preparation or testing. DD2795 during the predeployment medical threat Opthalmic Surgery: MAJ Barnes, Deputy brief with the original in the medical record and a Command Surgeon and Chief SOF Ophthalmologist, copy to USSOCOM. TB skin testing should be with- reviewed keratorefractive surgery. Radial Kera- 6 Journal of Special Operations Medicine otomy (RK) is never indicated and permanently dis- Blood Substitutes: MAJ John Mullen, 1st qualifying and nonwaiverable, due to permanent SFG (A) Group Surgeon, presented a special talk on residual weakness to the corneal structure because blood substitutes, Hemoglobin Based Oxygen the incision depths are over 90% of the thickness of Carriers (HBOC), which should be considered a the cornea. Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) is drug that carries oxygen. Hemorrhage accounts for approved after vision has stabilized as early as 3 the majority (60%) of preventable combat deaths months post-surgery. Laser Assisted In-Situ and blood is difficult to transport and to store. Even Keratomileusis (LASIK) is not approved for in major disasters, all blood supplies will be deplet- SWCS schools but can be waived for SF duty ed within 10 days. Hemopure has the advantage retention only after examined by a SOF ophthal- over Polyheme in that it does not require refrigera- mologist. PRK and LASIK are similar in success tion. Hemopure has excellent oxygen exchange, rates: 90-95% will see 20/40 or better but 1-2% will low viscosity and colloidal properties. Several have permanent vision loss of 2 lines on the Snellen studies were reviewed. Clinical use is similar to chart. LASIK is better in that the hazing and pain Hespan. common to PRK is minimal to none. However, com- Live Tissue Protocols: MAJ Drew plications associated with the corneal flap may Kosmowski, 7th SFG (A) Group Surgeon, present- become extremely serious although rare. Most com- ed live tissue protocols on Combat Trauma plications involve fungal infections and epithelial Management and Surgery. All participants sign cell creep below the flap. Laser Assisted In-Situ non-disclosure statements and Battalion Epithelial Keratomileusis(LASEK), a new modifica- Commanders cosign as adjunct principal investiga- tion of the LASIK whereby a small epithelial corneal tors (PIs). There is an online training requirement layer is rolled back, is promising and may greatly for all investigators including group and battalion reduce some of these complications. COL surgeons and the commanders. They treated chest, Enzenauer, 5/19th SFG (A) Bn Surgeon and paedi- abdominal and extremity wounds using a goat atric ophthalmologist, recommends that PRK is best model and exported live tissue training OCONUS. for nearsightedness or myopia less than 4 diopters. As a side note, Dr. Kosmowski delivered a baby LASIK is better for myopes greater than 4 diopters. precipitously at a traffic checkpoint at Fort Bragg Dr. Enzenauer also recommends that a corneal spe- recently. cialist who does both procedures perform your sur- 10th SFG:MAJ Craig Durck, 10th SFG (A) gery. My professional colleague and Army Reserve Group Surgeon, reviewed their activities and the Oculoplastic Surgeon, Dr. Nevarez, concurs. importance of Medical Humanitarian Civic Actions Chemical Bacteriological Radiological (Med HCAs) in making inroads with the Serbians, (CBR): PT Sean Phelps, 1/1 SFG (A) Battalion especially the need for optometry and dentistry. In Surgeon, discussed a training exercise involving the event of a life-ending injury to a military mem- unknown CBR threats. He stressed the need to plan ber, a current leave earning statement (LES), com- for a hasty recon before exfil and contamination con- manding officer’s (CO’s) letter stating no judicial tainment plan. Two decon lanes are recommended actions pending, and MD’s letter of possible imm-i whenever possible. Isolation for up to 17 days may nent death are all that is needed for medical retire- be required for any potential biological agent expo- ment. These should be included in the servicemem- sure. There is no substitute for field-testing all equip- bers retirement packet (SRP). This type of medical ment and practice. Med Log, Med Opns and NBC retirement can be reversed. Live tissue training is Officers have to coordinate both training and now incorporated in the Special Forces Advanced response especially with medevac to higher echelons Urban Combat (SFAUC) course. He also went over with the Air Force. NAVSPECWAR is the leading cold weather training opportunities and short dis- authority in CBR for Special Operations and cussion on cold injury. He discussed a mine injury SOCOM Manual 3-11 should be added to all SOF occurring on post. A team medic was new from libraries. Biofoam by MODEC is the recommended school and spent considerable time discussing team decon agent. A field expedient respirator can be made roles during a trauma incident which was very help- with three folded layers of cotton over the nose and ful. It took approximately 45 minutes for the casu- mouth, which will filter out 80% of all airborne par- alty to be picked up by helicopter. He was a multi- ticles. ple trauma, including traumatic amputations and Volume 2, Edition 1 / Winter 02 7